Unit cooler



Dec. 20, 1966 R. M, SHRADER 3,292,688

UNIT COOLER Filed Jan. '7, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l 53 INVENTOR 55 RAYMOND VLSHRADER f PdMhwc &,

ATTORNEYS Dec. 20; 1 966 M, SHRADER 3,292,688

UNIT COOLER Filed Jan. 7, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "figs 'I \g 4 7 Q8 27 INVENTOR RAYMONQ M. SHRADER i. ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,292,688 UNIT COOLER Raymond M. Shrader, Decatur, Ga, assignor to Larkm Coils, Inc., Atlanta, Ga, a corporation of Georgia Filed Jan. 7, 1965, Ser. No. 423,986 Claims. (Cl. 165122) This invention relates to unit coolers generally and in particular to unit coolers adapted to be located in cooling or refrigerating rooms wherein space is at a premium and there is a need to remove various components of the cooler for servicing.

In normal installations wherein space is normally at a premium unit coolers, as anticipated by this invention, need to be located so that the major components can be easily removed for servicing. These types of coolers are normally mounted suspended from the ceiling and quite frequently very near one or more walls. Thus it can be seen that it will be difi'icult at least to remove the upper components of the cooler to either service them or to clean the remaining components.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a unit cooler in which the major components thereof are easily removed for servicing.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a removable tray which contains the complete fan motor and fan blade assembly.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a unit cooler to which the major component-s thereof are placed relative to one another in such a manner to consume as little space as possible.

And yet another object of this invention is the provision of a unit cooler which is simple to manufacture and is economical to use.

- Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing only a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the unit cooler of the present invention shown in operative position suspended from a ceiling of a cooling compartment wherein the view of the cooler is from the bottom;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the major components of the unit cooler;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section view taken along lines 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section view taken along lines 44 of FIGURE 3;

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, the unit cooler of the present invention is designated generally by the numeral 10. The unit cooler generally comprises a housing made of any size adapted for its intended use and comprises endwalls 11 and 12 and sidewalls 13 and 14. The sidewalls 13 and 14 each have a cut-out in the upper portion of the vertical wall denoted generally by numerals 15 and 16 respectively.

Inwardly of the en-dwalls 11 and 12 are parallel support walls 17 and 18 which are positioned so that each is adjacent one side of the cut-out portion 15 and 16 thereby defining cavities 21 and 22. The support walls 17 and 18 provide the end'support and positioning means for the refrigerating coil 23. The refrigerating coil is of the usual type having parallel refrigerant carrying tubes 24 with the tubes being interconnected at their ends by the usual U shaped bends 25. The tubes 24 extend through a plurality of transverse heat exchanger fins of suitable material to provide a desired heat exchange between the ambient atmosphere and the circulatory refrigerant.

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To support the entire unit cooler 10 there is provided a plurality of downwardly extending L shaped hanger bars 26 which are aflixed normally to the sidewalls 13 and 14 of the unit cooler housing. In addition the hanger bars 26 project through the entire housing and terminate a predetermined distance below so that a suitable drip pan and air deflector 27 may be hung therefrom. The drip pan 27 generally comprises a bottom 28 and an upstanding peripheral sidewall 29 to maintain therein any condensate that might accumulate within the drip pan. At the upper end of the L shaped hanger bars the outwardly projecting portion of the L comprises a slotted foot 30 with a slot 30a included therein. To mount the unit cooler 10 in the refrigerated room it is merely necessary to position a suitable screw fastener 31 within the slots 30a and firmly attach the cooler to the ceiling 32 of the room.

A novel feature of the present invention is the provision of an easily movable slide-out service tray assembly 33. The service tray assembly 33 comprises a rectangular platform member 34 having downturned ends 35 and 36 and downturned sides 37 and 38. At the lowermost portion of the downturne'd sides 37 and 38 are located upwardly and outwardly projecting tray lock members 41 and 42. Tray lock member 41 is associated with side 37 and tray lock member 42 with side 38. Within the upper surface of the platform member 34 there are provided a pair of large apertures 43 and 44 which, respectively, receive thereabove the fan assemblies 45 and 46. The fan assemblies 45 and 46 may be of any type suitable for the present operation and normally consist of an identical fan motor 47 and blade assembly 48. As a safety precaution a cage structure 49 is placed about the fan motors and blade assemblies.

At the downturned ends 35 and 36 there is an inwardly projecting tray slide 51 which supports the service tray assembly 33 when it is in operative position. The inwardly projecting tray slide 51 is adapted to rest upon the tray support 52 and may slide across for ease of removal and repositioning. When the service tray assembly 33 is in its proper operative position and resting vertically above the refrigerating coil 23, it may be secured in that position by a retaining channel member 53 which comprises a flat vertical member 54 and an inwardly projecting hook shape portion 55.

As shown specifically in FIGURES 1 and 3 the retaining channel member 53 is adapted to be screwed to the sidewalls 13 or 14 by means of thumb screws 56 which are thereby threaded into holes 57a and 57b. As noted in these figures the retaining channel member 53 interfits with the upturned tray lock member 41. This would be accomplished by positioning the hook-shaped portion 55 over the tray lock member 41 and then fitting the thumb screws 56 through the holes 57a and 57b. As is obvious, such a construction securely locks the service tray assembly 33 in position and does not allow it to be moved until the retaining channel member 53 is disengaged.

Since it may be convenient to mount the unit cooler 10 near one particular wall or another it should be appreciated that the present invention operates perfectly in any mounted arrangement. This is because the retaining channel member 53 may be so positioned as to interlock with the tray lock member 41 or with tray lock member 42 thereby reversing the side of the unit cooler to which easy access may be gained. Whether the retaining channel member 53 interlocks with either tray lock member 41 or tray lock member 42 is immaterial as each Will satisfactorily serve the desired purpose.

It has been shown that the present invention provides a definite step in the ease of servicing unit coolers over any methods found in the prior art. This novel method of servicing both the fan assemblies and the refrigerating coils is embodied by the novel arrangement of the present slide-out service tray which is not necessarily dependent upon the location of the unit cooler.

While I have particularly shown and described one particular embodiment of the invention, it is distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but that modifications may be made within the scope of the invention and such variations as are covered by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cooling apparatus comprising, a housing having a pair of endwalls and a pair of sidewalls, the sidewalls having a relieved portion in the upper most edge thereof defining a through recess in the housing, support walls located inwardly of the endwalls and bridging the space between the sidewalls, the support walls further being located adjacent the relieved portions in the sidewalls, an elongated fin-and-tube refrigerating unit mounted within the housing and supported by the support walls, a removable service tray assembly comprising a platform having apertures therein, a fan assembly mounted on the platform in conjunction with at least one of the apertures, the platform having endwalls and sidewalls, an upwardly projecting tray lock member projecting from each of the platform sidewalls, the service tray adapted to slide into and out of cooperative engagement with the housing through recess, means to secure the service tray within the housing.

2. A cooling apparatus comprising, a housing having a pair of endwalls and a pair of sidewalls, the sidewalls having a relieved portion in the uppermost edge thereof defining a through recess in the housing, support walls located inwardly of the end walls and bridging the space between the sidewalls, the support walls further being located adjacent the relieved portions in the sidewalls, an elongated fin-and-tube refrigerating unit mounted within the housing and supported by the support walls, a removable service tray assembly operatively positioned in the through recess, the removable service tray assembly comprising a platform having apertures therein, a fan assembly mounted on the platform in conjunction with at least one of the apertures, the platform having endwalls and sidewall an upwardly projecting tray lock member projecting from each of the platform sidewalls, the service tray adapted to slide into and out of cooperative engagement with the housing through recess, means to secure the service tray within the housing.

- 3. A cooling apparatus comprising, a housing having a pair of endwalls and a pair of sidewalls, the sidewalls having a relieved portion in the uppermost edge thereof defining a through recess in the housing, support walls located inwardly of the endwalls and bridging the space between the sidewalls, the support walls further being located adjacent the relieved portions in the sidewalls, an elongated fin-and-tube refrigerating unit mounted within the housing and supported by the support walls, a removable service tray assembly operatively positioned in the through recess, the removable service tray assembly comprising a platform having apertures therein, a fan assembly mounted on the platform in conjunction with at least one of the apertures, the platform having endwalls and sidewalls, an upwardly projecting tray lock member projecting from each of the platform sidewalls, the endwalls of the service tray assembly including a tray slide member, a tray support member positioned in the through recess cooperating with the tray slide member to provide support to the removable service tray assembly, the service trayv adapted to slide into and out of cooperative engagement between the sidewalls, the support walls further being located adjacent the relieved portions in the sidewalls, an elongated fin-and-tube refrigerating unit mounted within the housing and supported by the support walls, a remova-. ble service tray assembly operatively positioned in the through recess, the removable service tray assembly com prising a platform having apertures therein, a fan assembly mounted on the platform in conjunction with at least one of the apertures, the platform having endwalls and side walls, an upwardly projecting tray lock member projecting from each of the platform sidewalls, the service tray adapted to slide into and out of cooperative engagement with the housing through recess, means to secure the service tray within the housing including a retaining channel member having a hook-shaped portion adapted to interfit with one of the sidewall tray lock members and means to fasten the retaining channel member to the housing,

5. A cooling apparatus comprising, a housing having a pair of endwalls and a pair of sidewalls, the sidewalls having a relieved portion in the uppermost edge thereof defining a through recess in the housing, support walls located inwardly of the endwalls and bridging the space between the sidewalls, the support walls further being located adjacent the relieved portions in the sidewalls, an elongated fin-and-tube refrigerating unit mounted within the housing and supported by the support walls, a removable service tray assembly operatively positioned in the through recess, the removable service tray assembly comprising a platform having apertures therein, a fan assembly mounted on the platform in conjunction with at least one of the apertures, the platform having endwalls and sidewalls, an upwardly projecting tray lock member projecting from each of the platform sidewalls, the endwalls of the service tray assembly including a tray slide member, a tray support member positioned in the through recess cooperating with the tray slide member to provide support to the removable service tray assembly, the service tray adapted to slide into and out of cooperative engagement with the housing through recess, means to secure the service tray within the housing including a retaining channel member having a hook-shaped portion adapted to interfit with one of the sidewall tray lock members and means to fasten the retaining channel member to the housing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,907,527 5/1933 Erskine -55 1,950,768 3/1934 Anderson 165121 X 2,251,649 8/1941 \Vichmann 165-122 X 2,357,684 9/1944 Norris 230259 2,852,235 9/1958 McElgin et al 16553 X 3,181,795 5/1965 Phillips 16555 X MEYER PERLIN, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT A. OLEARY, Examiner.

T. W. STREULE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A COOLING APPARATUS COMPRISING, A HOUSING HAVING A PAIR OF ENDWALLS AND A PAIR OF SIDEWALLS, THE SIDEWALLS HAVING A RELIEVED PORTION IN THE UPPER MOST EDGE THEREOF DEFINING A THROUGH RECESS IN THE HOUSING, SUPPORT WALLS LOCATED INWARDLY OF THE ENDWALLS AND BRIDGING THE SPACE BETWEEN THE SIDEWALLS, THE SUPPORT WALLS FURTHER BEING LOCATED ADJACENT THE RELIEVED PORTIONS IN THE SIDEWALLS, AN ELONGATED FIN-AND-TUBE REFRIGERATING UNIT MOUNTED WITHIN THE HOUSING AND SUPPORTED BY THE SUPPORT WALLS, A REMOVABLE SERVICE TRAY ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A PLATFORM HAVING APERTURES THEREIN, A FAN ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON THE PLATFORM IN CONJUNCTION WITH AT LEAST ONE OF THE APERTURES, THE PLATFORM HAVING ENDWALLS AND SIDEWALLS, AN UPWARDLY PROJECTING TRAY LOCK MEMBER PROJECTING FROM EACH OF THE PLATFORM SIDEWALLS, THE SERVICE TRAY ADAPTED TO SLIDE INTO AND OUT OF COOPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE HOUSING THROUGH RECESS, MEANS TO SECURE THE SERVICE TRAY WITHIN THE HOUSING. 